Dogs and Chocolate?

Question

I have a 75 lb. huskey who ate about 1/2 lb of various types of chocolate for halloween last night. Does anyone know if she is at risk for getting sick? She seemed fine this morning; however, we found out too late to induce vomiting. She ate the wrapers and all so I can't be sure exactly how much she ate.

Answer 1

Chocolate has toxins, but it isn't as lethal as people often think. (Some people think chocolate is like instant death for dogs.)

Chocolate is only lethal in high doses. The chemical theobromine is the toxic portion. Milk chocolate has less theobromine than dark chocolate. Bakers chocolate has more theobromine than both dark and milk chocolate. So bakers chocolate is the worst for dogs to have, and milk chocolate is less dangerous.


The below text (between the double lines) is quoted from: http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/DOGS/chocolatetoxic.HTM
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On average,
Milk chocolate contains 44 mg of theobromine per oz.
Semisweet chocolate contains 150mg/oz.
Baker's chocolate 390mg/oz.

Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:
1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate
1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate
1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker's chocolate.

So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker's chocolate can cause great risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.
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(White chocolate contains 1 mg of theobromine per oz. So that is virtually none. Essentially no risk of theobromine poisoning with white chocolate.)

The average candybar is under 2 oz and is made of milk chocolate. So unless the dog is under 2 pounds, it isn't a "toxic dose".

You have a large dog, so she should be fine eating 8 oz of milk chocolate. She may likely throw up or have diarrhea, though. (I would be more concerned about the wrappers than the chocolate. If she starts having problems, then take her to the vet to be safe.)
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Answer 2

Oh, I love this one. No doubt all the orthodox traditionalists will scream, your dog is going to die!!!!!

Poppycock!

Like with humans, some people are allergic to peanuts, wine, chocolate, all sorts and the same principle applies to dogs.

Sounds like your dog had a party all on her own and she survived the night. Right!!!!!! Many of my dogs have pinched chocolates over the years and it never harmed any of them, same with cereals, since the new scare is to not give them raisins. Much like the human diet, in France people drink a glass of red wine with their food, whereas in the UK we are told that red wine gives you cancer as does red meat, smoked meat and a whole bunch of other stuff.

If your husky were allergic to chocolate, she would have collapsed within half an hour of eating the chocolate. She survived the night, including eating the wrappers. LOL Perhaps if she is not on a nature diet, she is telling you something. Inducing a dog to vomit sounds terribly extreme to me, but if you take her for a walk and she eats grass, she will probably throw up all by herself.

A healthy diet for a dog includes bones and in fact black chocolate contains vit B6, so if the quality of the chocolate is that of a prime cocoa bean, like with the paper, it will just come out the other end. In fact it probably already has, since it takes max 12 hours to run through the digestive track. The chocolate itself only takes 4 hours.

Check if the nose feels moist, the eyes are clear and whether the crown of the head is hot. Take her for a brisk walk and check again. If the head has cooled down, you are totally in the clear. If your dog is not well, I am sure her behaviour will be alarming in so many ways.

I had a dog once, Serena, she found a box with Christmas Crackers and had a party all by herself, pulling the crackers and loved the bang. Tasted everything inside the crackers, although not too many edibles. That dog was always into everything. Healthy and full of fun.

Answer 3

My answer will always be to bring them to a vet when in doubt. I myself wouldn't be too concerned based on the size of teh dog and the actual amount of chocolate that she ingested, since most Halloween candy just has a milk chocolate coating on the outside of other yummy goodness. If it were a half pound of dark or baking chocolate, that would be a whole different story! But it is always better to be safe than sorry! Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Usually dog poisoning is pretty darned fast action. If the dog has survived the night, taking it to the vet will only cost you money. If you feel that you need to, go ahead.

If your dog was poisoned, it would be showing signs of it already. If the dog is poisoned, 12 hours is past treatment time. Really. Once the tummy has processed the chocolate..there is no treatment for it. There is a 4 to 6 hour treament period for it.

Answer 5

Chocolate "can" kill/harm dogs...does not mean that it will harm every dog. If your dog has not shown any signs of vomiting, runs, agitation or being sick or in pain yet that is good. make sure that you keep a close eye on her over the next day or two. If nothing happens over the next few days she will be fine, but if she does start to show signs/do any of the above get her to the vet asap. I hope that she will be fine....huskies are beautiful dogs :)

Answer 6

That is a lot of chocolate for any human or animal to injest all at one time. To answer your question, yes, your dog is at some risk for chocolate toxcitity. You need to watch her very closely and if she seems lethargic or you notice any changes whatsoever, you need to get her to the vet as soon as possible. As for her eating the wrappers as well, those too could make her sick, or can cause an intestinal blockage. If it were my fur kid, I would have her at the vets office as soon as possible, better safe than sorry. Best of luck to you.

Answer 7

I had a 90 lb German shepherd who ate an entire box of valentine chocolates one year. (all kinds of chocolates) I was recently told by a vet that dark chocolate is worse than milk chocolate. (she ate some wrappers too) she had diarrhea, but was fine after that. If you are concerned, call and ask your vet.

Answer 8

canines and pups don't have the skill as we human beings do to digest an ordinary chemical modern in chocolate called "Theobromine". while theobromine is ingested by using an animal it impacts are awful on the substantial frightened equipment and the cardiovascular equipment. This results of the chemical has an fairly harsh result on the animal’s physique inflicting severe trauma and usually loss of life. if your 50-pound canines gets his paws on a unmarried chocolate-chip cookie, it in all danger won't reason him severe issues. besides the undeniable fact that, if he gobbles up greater – a pan of truffles, say – he might develop vomiting or diarrhea. as quickly as poisonous stages are reached, the stimulants kick in, and it is once you fairly could fret. indications comprise: restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, larger urination and/or extreme panting. if your puppy isn't taken care of, he could go right into a seizure – probable even die. So, do no longer permit your canines to consume chocolate. :)

Answer 9

Since your dog is 75 pounds she should be fine. She will probably get diarrhea though, so don't get mad if you get home and find a mess...she couldn't help it!

The really bad chocolate that can kill a dog is the dark chocolate...baking chocolate. Don't worry...but she probably has a little stomachache! Good luck, Cami

AND I just read all the answers you got...the only accurate one (besides mine!) is the one from babyange...the vet tech

Answer 10

I would just keep an eye on her for now. If she starts panting or becomes restless take her to a vet straight away. I would be more concerned with the ingestion of wrappers more than the amount of chocolate eaten.